As part of National Agriculture week, the state
Senate on Tuesday approved a resolution declaring March 24, 2009,
as “Ag Day” in the state of Oklahoma. Sen. Ron
Justice, author of the resolution, said it was important to
remember the important role agriculture plays in our economy and
culture.

“When we promote agriculture, we’re
promoting Oklahoma,” said Justice, R-Chickasha. “The
performance of the agricultural economy is vital to both our state
and the nation as a whole. Today, we salute our agricultural system
and its role in making Oklahoma a great state.”

Justice, Chairman of the Senate Agriculture and
Rural Development Committee, said agriculture remains one of the
top employers in the state, providing jobs for one in every six
Oklahomans. There are approximately 86,500 farms in the state,
and agriculture contributed $5.8 billion to the Oklahoma economy
in 2007.

“Agriculture is important not only to our
economy but to our identity as a state,” Justice said. “It’s
important that we acknowledge the men and women who maintain the
strength of this industry and provide safe, quality products to
homes throughout the country.”